Tag Archives: Candlemas

Festive Celebration of Candlemas

January 27, 2022 Editor

The feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, commonly as Candlemas, in a festive service in the traditional Latin form, including the Blessing of Candles, Procession and Solemn High Mass, on Sunday, February 6, at 2:00 P.M., at Saint Stanislaus Church, State and Eld Streets, New Haven. The Celebrant will be the Reverend Richard G. Cipolla, Pastor Emeritus of St. Mary’s Church, Norwalk, and the Deacon will be the Reverend Robert L. Turner, Pastor of St. Ambrose Parish, North Branford

Candlemas celebrates both the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary forty days after his birth. In both respects it is connected with the mysteries of Christmas and is filled with Christmas joy. It is a feast of light—first because of aged Simeon’s prophetic words when he greeted Jesus at the temple as the Light which should enlighten the Gentiles, and also on account of the Candlemas procession, in which candles are carried, as once was done on other feasts of Our Lady. Today’s procession has been retained on one of her most ancient feasts to celebrate the revelation of Christ as the Light of the world.

Music for the service performed by the Schola Cantorum of the Saint Gregory Society, will include the Gregorian chant Missa Marialis (Vatican ed. IX/X), the chant propers for the procession and Mass, polyphonic motets by Healey Willan and Tomás Luis de Victoria, and organ music by William Byrd and Orlando Gibbons.

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Candlemas 2020

January 31, 2020 Editor

The feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, commonly as Candlemas, will be celebrated this Sunday, February 2, at 2:00 P.M., at St. Stanislaus Church, State and Eld Streets, New Haven. The Celebrant of the Solemn Mass will be the Fr. Peter J. Langevin, Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich, the Deacon will be Fr. Robert L. Turner, Pastor of St. Ambrose Parish, North Branford and Subdeacon will be William Riccio.

Candlemas celebrates both the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary forty days after his birth. In both respects it is connected with the mysteries of Christmas and is filled with Christmas joy. It is a feast of light—first because of aged Simeon’s prophetic words when he greeted Jesus at the temple as the Light which sould enlighten the Gentiles, and also on account of the Candlemas procession, in which candles are carried, as once was done on other feasts of Our Lady. Today’s procession has been retained on one of her most ancient feasts to celebrate the revelation of Christ as the Light of the world.

The solemn blessing of candles and procession through the church by the entire congregation, with the servers holding the newly blessed lit candles, followed by Solemn Mass, comprise one of the loveliest services of the Church Year. Please bring family and friends to participate in this festive celebration. Music for the service performed by the Schola Cantorum of the St. Gregory Society, will include the Gregorian chant Missa Marialis (Vatican ed. IX/X), the chant propers for the procession and Mass, polyphonic motets by Palestrina and Victoria, and organ music by William Byrd and Orlando Gibbons.

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TLM for the Purification of Mary–Candlemas

January 31, 2019 Editor

The feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, commonly as Candlemas, will be celebrated this Sunday, February 3, at 2:00 P.M., at St. Stanislaus Church, State and Eld Streets, New Haven. The Celebrant will be the Father Peter J. Langevin, Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich, the Deacon will be Father Matthew Doughtery, OPraem and the Subdeacon will be Bill Riccio.

Shakespeare’s Juliet rhetorically asked “what’s in a name?” and concluded that a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet. When it comes to a liturgical feast we should also ask “what’s in a name?” The feast day on February 2, which we will observe this Sunday, the 3rd, is known by a few different names: The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Presentation of Our Lord, The Hypapanty (Meeting), and Candlemas. Each of these names highlights a different aspect of the same event, when Mary, in obedience to Mosaic Law, goes to the Temple forty days after giving birth to make the prescribed sacrifice, and the aged Simeon and Anna recognize her son Jesus as the Savior of the world.

In terms of naming the feast, the issue is whether it is given a Christological or a Mariological emphasis. The Roman Church has always viewed February 2 as a feast of the Blessed Virgin, and the earliest calendars call it The Purification. The Byzantine Church, on the other hand, views the feast Christologically and calls it The Meeting of Our Lord, commemorating the first time Jesus meets His people publicly in the Temple. The name Candlemas neither refers to Jesus nor Mary but to the blessing of candles that occurs on this feast in the West. While the origin of the blessing of candles on this day is obscure, and possibly pagan in origin, the candle has been interpreted Christologically by St. Anselm stating that the wax represents the virginal flesh of the Christ child, the wick is His soul, and the flame His divinity. Regardless of what a particular rite may call this feast, the same mystery of salvation is commemorated and celebrated.

Please bring candles to bless during Mass. A table will be set up in the sanctuary.

Music for the service performed by the Schola Cantorum of the St. Gregory Society, will include the Gregorian chant Missa Marialis (Vatican ed. IX/X), the chant propers for the procession and Mass, polyphonic motets by Victoria and Byrd, and organ music by Charles Tournemire, Paul de Maleingreau, and Alexandre Guilmant.

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